VOA慢速英语 Japan Marks Respect for the Aged Day

 

Over 200 people gathered recently on a hot day at a shrine¹ in downtown Tokyo.

Many in the crowd were older adults. Some chewed gum and lifted dumbbells. The weight lifting was meant to increase their strength and balance.

The elderly Japanese had gathered for an event to mark Respect for the Aged² Day.

The observance comes at a time when Japan’s population is aging. The number of people aged 65 and over has grown to 27.7 percent of the population. That information comes from government reports.

The number of elderly Japanese who still work has also hit a new high. These numbers are evidence of efforts by the government and private businesses to keep the elderly at work.

The government estimates, released on Monday, are a sign of the problems resulting from a declining³ birthrate. Now, there are around 1.45 births for every woman in Japan. Many economists⁴ say a developed country needs a birthrate above 2 births per woman to prevent its population from shrinking.

Japan has struggled with a declining workforce⁵ for many years. The percentage of elderly people is among the highest in the Group of Seven Nations. Italy, for example, has an elderly population of around 23 percent. Germany has around 21.5 percent, while France has 19.7 percent.

In Japan, the government estimates that 35.14 million Japanese people are age 65 or older. 7.7 million of those men and women are still working.

For the first time, the number of Japanese aged 90 or older rose above two million.

Natsu Naruse joined the group exercise in Tokyo last week. She recently turned 100 years old.

"I think my children would have trouble," if I lived longer, she said.

I'm John Russell.

Words in This Story

shrine – n. a place connected with a holy person or event where people go to worship : a place that people visit because it is connected with someone or something that is important to them

dumbbell – n. a short bar with weights at the ends that is used to make muscles stronger

chew – v. to bite on (something) repeatedly with the teeth

gum – n. a type of soft candy that you chew on but do not swallow

birthrate – n. a number that shows how many babies are born in a particular place or during a particular time

1 shrine   

n.圣地，神龛，庙；v.将...置于神龛内，把...奉为神圣

参考例句：

• The shrine was an object of pilgrimage.这处圣地是人们朝圣的目的地。
• They bowed down before the shrine.他们在神龛前鞠躬示敬。

2 aged   

adj.年老的，陈年的

参考例句：

• He had put on weight and aged a little.他胖了，也老点了。
• He is aged,but his memory is still good.他已年老，然而记忆力还好。

3 declining   

adj.下降的，衰落的

参考例句：

• The nub of the matter is that business is declining. 事情的实质是工商业在萎缩。
• It is encouraging to read that illiteracy is declining. 从读报中了解文盲情况正在好转，这是令人鼓舞的。

4 economists   

n.经济学家，经济专家( economist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The sudden rise in share prices has confounded economists. 股价的突然上涨使经济学家大惑不解。
• Foreign bankers and economists cautiously welcomed the minister's initiative. 外国银行家和经济学家对部长的倡议反应谨慎。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 workforce   

n.劳动大军，劳动力

参考例句：

• A large part of the workforce is employed in agriculture.劳动人口中一大部分受雇于农业。
• A quarter of the local workforce is unemployed.本地劳动力中有四分之一失业。